Let me start by thanking NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my review. Typically second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes so I was really excited for this book. But this just did not work for me. It felt like the only reason the FMC wanted to separate from her husband was because he was extremely likeable and the center of attention and she was jealous. She also felt incredibly immature at times and it was really hard to root for her when I just did not like her character at all. I hope others enjoy this story more than I did.

A friend recommended I pick this up ASAP and I'm so glad I did. It gives me the opportunity to spread the word about how good this debut is!

Now I need to convince you to read it without giving anything away. Liz Lewis turns 30 and realizes she feels like she's living on the sidelines of her own life; that nobody really sees her. So she makes a pact with herself to make some changes. She wants to be seen and she wants a promotion. One of those changes is joining an improv class (I have to admit after reading this I did google to see if my town has any improv classes) to help her improve her social skills to better handle social anxiety. She also takes some space for herself from her marriage.

Plans don't always go accordingly. Her husband wants to fight for their marriage and offers to be her out of class improv partner, forcing both of them outside their typical roles. And she makes new friends in her class as she explores different ways of being. It was a privilege to watch Liz gets to know who she is (and maybe who she's been all along). I loved Liz finding her voice and finding a way to communicate her boundaries, wants, and needs while also acknowledging others' perspectives. Her learning was so visceral- I was right there for it and loved it.

Best is, this takes place in a gorgeous mountain resort town in Canada. It's a setting and a community the I hope I get to visit again.

Thanks to the publisher for a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored RULES FOR SECOND CHANCES. From the very beginning I felt as if I lived in this world with Liz and Tobin and I was rooting for the two of them to work things out from the first chapter. I find that marriage in trouble can be a tricky trope for my personal tastes, but Maggie North has clearly put such delicate care into building out Liz and Tobin's characters not just in the present when we meet them, but also in the past when they first met and fell in love. I never doubted why the two of them were first attracted to each other or why they would each want to work on their relationship and find a way back to each other. The cast of supporting characters were spectacularly developed and fun to spend pages with (an especially big shoutout to Sharon, who I want to be best friends with!!) and the neurodivergent rep. As a person who also struggles with social anxiety and feeling seen/understood in large groups, this was a cathartic read.

i adored this!! so much!! i will always always have such a soft spot in my heart for “saving a marriage” type romances. i think there is something so special about two people being so in love, but maybe a little lost and confused or hurt, but still fighting like hell to protect that love. and this book, liz and tobin were the epitome of this. this was not only such a beautiful, heartbreaking, heartWARMING!! love story but also really different and genuinely FUN!! like sooo swoony and so entertaining!! and really interesting!

liz was a very painfully painfully relatable character for me (… def was having some interesting realizations by the end) and i really loved tobin’s dedication to fixing what had gone wrong. the whole improv storyline was so inspiring (i could never) and watching liz grow more confident and sure of herself was just so beautiful to see. and again! tobin!! showing how much he really truly knows liz, even if they had practically become strangers!!! heart was pounding!!!

the side characters in this story absolutely DEVOURED!!!! and added so much depth to the story!!! Stellar!! the absolute best friend of dreams!!!! everyone needs a Stellar!!! Sharon and Bèa!!! just so perfectly supportive improv buddies!! Sharon is like the most perfect mentor, older-woman, mega wise role model that every woman desperately needs in her life!!! I NEED A SHARON!!! McHuge! i pictured him as a giant gentle teddy bear!!! definitely one of, if not THE main reason liz and tobin were able to work through their struggles and he did it so gently!! while also being the perfect comedic relief!! and of course eleanor!!!!! god i loved that child!!!!

one thing i just didn’t love AS MUCH! was what felt like a lack of true communication especially about specific issues (the wedding!!! hello????? i feel like i needed one chapter to them just discussing that together and working through it because woah!) the improv scenarios were a really unique take and super eye opening and a great way for them to get through their issues but to me, it felt like they were always talking about their problem in terms of something else and i wish there was a little bit more real communication. that being said, i still adored their journey of working through everything and growing back together!! and also loved watching liz’s other relationships grow as a result of all the work she was putting in to herself and her relationship with tobin!!! Marijke’s recipe!!!!! literally sobbing for real!!!

all in all this was such a special, eye opening, emotion filled book that i’m going to be thinking about for a while!!!

More Maggie North, now please!! This is my top ten books of the year. If you love Ever After Always by Chloe Liese (one of my top books ever), you will devour this like I did. Did I stay up until 3am because I couldn’t get enough? Guilty; I was absorbed by the magic of Liz and Tobin. The setting feels immersive. I’ve treasured my time on guided rafting trips like those of West and North, and I found the description of the town and the complexities (and patriarchal nonsense) of the guide industry felt authentic. The improv exercises read like exposure therapy in the most creative and unique way. Tobin and Liz’s love seemed to transcend either of their knowledge or appreciation, and cherished the real intricacies of their struggles. I loved the Chloe Liese book mentioned above because it takes the angle of trying to save a marriage as well, this is less often written in romance and we marrieds love to read it! Plot wise, this is stellar. I was blindsided in the most entertaining way, several times. And the side characters?! Can I order myself a Sharon, corporate fairy godmother?! The spice does not disappoint either! Loved it, completely.

This was my first second chance romance with a married couple, and wow! Maggie's writing is so lush, the insight of her characters so deep, the moments between Liz and Tobin so tender. If this isn't a book club pick yet, it needs to be. I can't wait to read more of Maggie's work!

A spectacular debut that will make you wonder why you were reading regular love stories before. This is such a beautifully constructed, clever examination of self and marriage. I was fully invested in the characters--all of them!--and the setting. Easily one of my best reads of the year. I can't wait for everyone else to read when it publishes in June 2024.

4.5 stars

What an inclusive, diverse, and engaging read! Maggie North has captured the journey of neurodiverse Liz, as she seeks to not only save her marriage but also embrace and become her true self. Honestly, I could categorize this as women's fiction first, because the main storyline is more about Liz's journey to self-acceptance than it is about the second chance with her estranged husband, Tobin. The use of improv to open up dialogues between partners and friends is unique and thought-provoking.

This book has a cast of characters that run the gamut of sexualities, ethnicities, and neurodiversities. It is hot but not spicy. The main characters have a strong pull toward each other, but it's not described in clinical detail.

My only tiny issue was that sometimes in the improv scenes, I got a little lost in the dialogue. The "yesses" and "nos": got a little convoluted in my brain. However, that did not stop me from being fully engaged in the story and rooting for Liz to find her way.

I'm hoping what seemed to be hints about Stellar, Lyle, and Renata means that there will be more books set in the world of Grey Tusk.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for this digital ARC in return for an honest review

I wasn't sure at first if I was just gonna read a book about a woman in a mid-life crisis, but as I followed Liz's story I found myself feeling everything she was feeling! What a roller coaster ride of feelings......of setbacks and celebrations! Absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to see what Maggie North writes next.

Thanks so much to St Martin's Press and NetGalley.

Liz is 30 and realizing a lot about her life. She decides to make changes through improv classes.

What a fun read. I loved Liz's journey of confidence building and self acceptance. She was easily relatable. It was a little hard to get into at first but I'm so glad that I stuck with it to finish. It was so worth it!

This one was so different in many ways. It was definitely a second chance trope, but the element of possible divorce was unlike anything I have read before.

For most of the story, Liz seemed very unlikeable, but in a way that made me want to see her growth. Her struggles were real, her misconceptions of herself were very real and I kept reading because, despite my initial feelings, I wanted her to win in the end. I wanted her to find her voice, herself, and be committed to the positive changes, as well as learn to accept herself for who she is.

The added element of working through relationship struggles without the help of a counselor was so unique. And those situations made Liz come alive and I loved her for that. I could feel the personal experiences that Maggie North has lived come alive through Liz. This story was not only about growth, but also empowerment in yourself.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!

I picked up a free ARC from netgalley during a read now campaign, but my opinions are my own.

Liz has just turned 30 and is taking stock of her life. She's unappreciated at her job with a wilderness expedition company despite her hard work because she has difficulty navigating social interactions. At home, she's stuck following in the wake of her dazzling, charismatic husband Tobin, while their communication has broken down and she often feels like she's stuck saying no to things while he gets to be the fun one. Frustrated and determined to change her life, she separates from Tobin and embarks on a journey to learn the skills she needs to get an important promotion... THROUGH THE POWER OF IMPROV COMEDY. Unfortunately, she's not very good at it. Tobin is the only person Liz can find to practice with her, but he's not giving up on their marriage and is determined to fix their issues... ALSO THROUGH THE POWER OF IMPROV COMEDY.

This book is really sweet and unique. I guarantee you have not read anything like it! Liz is such a great character. I found her so relatable and her experience to be just heartbreaking. She is trying so hard to make herself fit into the mold that comes easily to the obnoxious dude-bros who work in her company, although she comes to understand and appreciate herself much more over the course of the book. If you have ever felt like the odd one out in a place where everyone seems to know some unspoken code except for you, you will deeply resonate with Liz.

Tobin and Liz are both fully fleshed out characters with some family drama to deal with that plays a role in who they are and the problems in their marriage. I found the treatment of their family dynamics to be particularly insightful. Although I could understand why Liz felt like she needed to leave Tobin to work on herself, he is never an unsympathetic character. On the contrary, his devotion to Liz was very sweet and we get to see deeper layers to his personality as they address what went wrong in their marriage and work to find a second chance. I do not reread books very often, but I would happily come back to this one again. A second-chance romance with maximum feels. Maggie North is very talented and I loved this book from start to finish.

Well, I loved everything about this book. It was of course a romance, with enough pining and tension and spice to tick all those boxes for me, but there was also a certain amount of depth that made it feel unexpectedly authentic and true. I loved that this was a second-chance romance for a married couple, loved Liz’s journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance, loved Tobin’s commitment to her, and fully appreciated the unique structure the improv lessons gave to the story. Will absolutely recommend this to everyone — and be anxiously awaiting the author’s next book!

Rules for Second Chances is a second chance, marriage in trouble featuring improv as therapy and a really excellent (and well needed, especially in romance) neurodivergent rep. The two main characters, Liz and Tobin, really went through the wringer to get to their hard earned happy ending. I loved Liz’s journey and found the plot to lean more women’s fiction than romance based on the focus on Liz and her journey more so than the romance. I’m not the *biggest* fan of marriage in crisis stories, and wouldn’t preferred a bit of angst, but overall I did really enjoy this story and think it’ll resonate with a lot of readers!

I’m here for this! This second chance romance is *chefs kiss*!! Liz and Tobin are both great characters and I loved their story! How their relationship reworks and everything in between is just terrific!

Liz is done with who she’s been. And change starts at home as she decides to separate from her husband. She seeks out improv to improve her social skills and level up her career, while using those same tools to work on her marriage.

A sweet second chance romance. At times, the writing was hard to follow; if you can go beyond the imperfect flow, you’ll be rewarded with a heartwarming story.

St. Martin’s Press provided a complimentary e-galley

I fell in love with the writing style, how the author described thoughts and emotions; light and accessible, and at the same time almost tangible, as if I could touch and feel these words on my own skin. Absolutely beautiful!

I loved this book. It's a "second chance romance" that begins with the MC moving out. I loved the depiction of marriage and how often it isn't one thing that causes the problem, but many layers of the small stuff. The author did a fantastic job of weaving us into the MC's world and her point of view! I also appreciated the emphasis on the MC career and how it impacted her relationship.
Somehow, the Author has fashioned a LI that is both a cinnamon roll and a himbo at the same time. Tobin was sweet, befuddled, and finally angry. Good arc of his emotional development. By the end of the book, the reader is really rooting for them to sort out their problems.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the open door sex scenes. Chef's kiss.

Love this book! Was a little hard to read in the beginning when some of the side characters seemed so mean to the FMC, and I almost thought about stopping there and DNFing it, but I'm so happy I powered through! This book was so good on so many levels: the normalization of bi characters, the emotional arc of the FMC finding herself while trying reinvent herself, the secondhand cringe for her during the improv moments, the divine pop culture references and such a relatable, heartwarming story. The FMC wasn't perfect, but I was still rooting for her the whole time. Even if I hadn't related to her second guessing her career choices, marriage and neurotypical-ness, I still would have enjoyed this book just as much. Bonus points for making me want to travel to the mountains of Canada! 5 stars!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy of this novel.

I was definitely drawn to the premise of the book and the writing was really good. Unfortunately, I just didn't connect, I didn't fully understand why Liz decided to leave Tobin. Tobin didn't seem terribly flawed so it was more difficult to understand the conflict. Liz was kind of flat and boring. The concept of the improv classes and book fixing her life and marriage didn't work for me. Unfortunately, I DNF after 100 pages. I kept reading and waiting to connect but it didn't happen.